Automatic griddle cleaner



Feb. 3, 1959 J. DI MOLA, JR 2,871,636

AUTOMATIC GRIDDLE CLEANER Filed March 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCR.

United States Patent AUTOMATIC GRIDDLE CLEANER Joseph Di Mola, Jr., Ozone Park, N. Y.

Application March 19, 1958, Serial No. 722,453

7 Claims. (Cl. 51-241) This invention relates to kitchen equipment and more particularly to a griddle cleaner.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a completely automatic device for cleaning the cooking surface of griddles, particularly the griddles ordinarily found in restaurants, diners, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic griddle cleaner having self contained driving means for propelling the device back and forth upon the surface to be cleaned, and apparatus for controlling the supply of cleaning oil to the surface being cleaned.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic griddle cleaner of the above type that is completely safe, readily installed on existing as well as new production models of grilles and which requires a minimum amount of service and maintenance for proper operation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an autocatic griddle cleaner bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. in which:

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing certain parts of the apparatus; and

Figure'5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the driving gearing forming a part of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a griddle cleaner 10 made in accordance with the present invention is shown in operative association with a griddle 12 having an upper cooking surface 13 and which is supported upon a platform or other support 15. This device includes a pair of slide bearings 17 having downwardly depending projections 18 that are received within the drain channels or grooves 19 of the grille that remove the excess grease from the cooking surface. These projections keep these channels clean and open at all times during the use of the griddle.

An abrasive roller 20 is rotatably supported upon a shaft 22 carried by the slide bearings 17. This roller extends across the entire width of the griddle and is in frictional engagement with the upper cooking surface 13 thereof. Set screws 23 provide for periodic adjustment of the height of the roller so as to compensate for wear and to keep the roller in contact with the griddle. As is more clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the abrasive r011 20 is driven through bevel gearing 25 from 2,871,636 Patented Feb. 3,1959

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the main shaft 26 of a motor (not shown). A reduction gear box 28 carried by the motor housing has suitable reduction gearing that is driven by the main shaft 26v of the motor and thus rotates the output shaft 35 at a lower rate of speed. A drive pinion 34 secured to the output shaft 35 is in meshing engagement with a pinion 32 that is integrally secured to an enlarged spur gear 31, both the pinion 32 and spur gear 31 being rotatably supported upon the main shaft 26 of the motor. Thus, the motor is operative to drive the spur gear 31 at a slower rate of speed while simultaneously rotating the abrasive roll 20 at a higher rate of speed. A rack gear 37 extending along the length of the griddle is in meshing engagement with the spur gear 31, whereupon rotation of the spur gear 31 is operative to propel the abrasive roll throughout the length of the griddle. Pressure responsive switches 48, 49 at opposite ends of the griddle are adapted to be engaged by the slide bearings 17 as they approach each end thereof. These switches have leads 50, 51, respectively, that are in association with the drive motor for reversing the direction of rotation thereof so as to cause the roll to be moved back and forth across the upper surface 13 of the griddle until the surface is properly cleaned.

A guard 40 extends over the top of the roll so as to prevent injury to the cook. This guard has a self contained reservoir 42 with a bottom wall that has perforations 43. Liquid fat or oil is inserted into the reservoir 42 through the filler opening that is normally closed by the cap 44. This cap also has an air inlet 46 and port 45 which provides communication between the interior of the reservoir and atmosphere. Normally, this communication is blocked by a manually operated valve 47, so as to effectively prevent the passage of oil out of the reservoir through the small openings 43. Whenever it is desired to lubricate or clean the abrasive roll, the valve 47 is opened sufficiently to permit air to enter the reservoir and thus equalize the air pressureto permit oil to trickle out of the openings and onto the roll.

It will be recognized that this device may be installed on all existing griddles or may be readily provided in new production models. The closing of a single switch is operative to energize the motor to both propel the device back and forth along the surface of the griddle while simultaneously rotating the abrasive roll 20 at a higher speed to thus clean the cooking surface. Suitable skids or rollers 29 support the motor and reduction gearing upon the platform 15 for this reciprocating movement, all for the purposes hereinbefore described.

While various changes may be made in the detail con struction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is: i

1. In a griddle having a supporting platform, a cooking surface, and marginal drain channels, an automatic griddle cleaner comprising, in combination, an abrasive cleaning roll, end bearings rotatably supporting said roll in contact with the cooking surface of said griddle, means slidably supporting said end bearings upon said griddle for reciprocating longitudinal movement, means for propelling said roll and bearings back and forth upon said griddle, and means for rotating said roll upon said bearings.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said end bearings comprise projections slidably received within said marginal drain channels of said griddle.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said rotating means comprises a motor having a drive shaft connected to said roll.

4. The combination according to claim 3,,where in said propelling means comprises reduction gearing connected to said motor "drive-shaft, "a'ia'ck "gear extending along one side of said griddle, and said reduction gearing includes a spur gearin meshing engagement with said Track-gear. v

'5. The comb'ination according to claim4, 'further cornfprising control "means at each end or said igriddle for abutting engagement by said bearings for reversing the direction of rotation of said motor-shaft.

'6. The combination according to claim-5, further comprising "a guard over said roll having a liquid lubricant reservoir, and selective control means for supplying lubricant to said roll.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein said reservoir includes downwardly opening perforations, and said selective control means comprises an adjustable air inlet valve normally preventing communication between atmosphere and the interior of said reservoir for preventing release of the lubrioant through said perforations.

-No J'references cited. 

